Schools Welcome Bilingual Education But Debate Rages Over Dual-Language Advantage

Language is the most vital matrix of communication in societies. Since humans are social animals, it's imperative for them to learn and get used to some standard or medium through which they can express their thoughts, feelings and desires. Social interactions are all about language flows hence linguistics play an important role in humans.

For every country, language is a trademark of their history and the local dialect of different areas within a country is equally important. Recently in California, all counties approved to teach more than one languages in schools, according to Daily Press. State schools chief Tom Torlakson has encouraged the addition of languages other than English, saying that proficiency in other languages will help students to acquire more work globally.

Even though there have been praises for the new proposition, it is yet to be enacted. However, it will be interesting to see the choices of the students in picking the other language in which they want to master and how their parents might think about their choices. After the implementation of the bill, students will have their certification of bilingual proficiency.

According to PRI, California has uplifted the ban of bilingual literacy after almost two decades through a referendum. Psychologists are now speaking about its importance and effects. According to Judith Kroll, professor of psychology and linguistics, bilingual education is complex and the brains of bilingual people are always active in cognition even when they are using only one language.

Neuroscientist Thomas Bak added that being proficient in two languages is not only helpful in practical life but it also helps and enhances the brain functions. It lessens the danger of dementia and increases the cognitive potential.

Even though the bilingual structure of education is appreciated on many grounds, it has met with criticism too. Kenneth Paap, a psychologist of cognition, challenges the effects of bilingual mastery on brain development, The Scientific American noted.

Paap issued a paper in which it is stated that bilingualism has not proven beneficial for the intellect. But researchers who had devoted years of work to study the effects of languages on brain control and development responded to Paap's criticism by sending stats and data of the research conducted by them.